Bag filling machine with slidably mounted bag clamping means



March 9, 1954 H. v. KINDSETH 2,671,535

BAG FILLING MACHINE WITH SLIDABLY MOUNTED BAG CLAMPING MEANS Filed Feb. 12, 1948 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 SUPPLY I E l I INVENTOR. /7'/I,0L 0 [Um/05E 7/1 ATTORNEY-5 H. v. KINDSETH 2,671,585 BAG FILLING MACHINE WITH SLIDABLY MOUNTED BAG CLAMPING MEANS March 9, 1954 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 12, 1948 .m m m W ND R "MN 0 mm MQVA z March 1954 H. v. KINDSETH 2,671,585

BAG FILLING MACHINE WITH SLIDABLY MOUNTED BAG CLAMPING MEANS Filed Feb. 12, 1948 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 /NVEN TOE HAEOLDM/UNDSETH ATTORNEYS March 9, 1954 v, K|ND$ETH 2,671,585

BAG FILLING MACHINE WITH SLIDABLY MOUNTED BAG CLAMPING MEANS Filed Feb. 12, 1948 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 AT TOENE YJ March 9, 1954 H. v. KINDSETH BAG FILLING MACHINE WITH SLIDABLY MOUNTED BAG CLAMPING MEANS 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 12, 1948 e c. mm m M m WW w /M. 0% A NOV L I m a March 9, 1954 v, KINDSETH 2,671,585

BAG FILLING MACHINE WITH SLIDABLY MQUNTED BAG CLAMPING MEANS March 1954 H. v. KINDSETH BAG FILLING MACHINE WITH SLIDABLY MOUNTED BAG CLAMPING MEANS 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Feb. 12, 1948 /NI/ENTOE lfiecua M/f/NDSETH ATTORNEY.-

Mam]! 1954 H. v. KINDSETH 7 ,5 5

BAG FILLING MACHINE WITH SLIDABLY MOUNTED BAG CLAMPING MEANS Filed Feb. 12, 1948 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 Fla. 3

//VVEN TOE 4 HAROLD .hlNDSE'TH a FIG 1/ m ATToRwE Y6 March 9, 19 4 H. v. KINDSETH BAG FILLING MACHINE WITH SLIDABLY MOUNTED BAG CLAMPING MEANS 7 Filed Feb. 12, 1948 9 shefiwwsheei 9 IILT QQ SQQHFPSR u ZQRt EQ YNW Patented Mar. 9, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BAG FILLING MACHINE WITH SLIDABLY MOUNTED BAG CLAM'PING MEANS Application February 12, 1948, Serial No. 7,817

11 Claims. 1

Thisinvention relates to new and useful improvements in bag filling and sealing machines and more particularly to such apparatus for filling and closing large flexible walled bags.

Numerous products are now packaged in large flexible walled containers or bags which, after having received their full charge of material, have their open tops closed and sealed by folding a strip of sealing tape over the flattened bag top walls and securing it thereto by a suitable 1 adhesive or by stitching. In some instances the bag tops may be sewed only. When filling bags on a conventional auger type packer, each empty bag is loosely fitted over the packer tube d is supported upon the usual packer platform which gradually lowers as the bag is filled. When the :bag has received its charge from the packer tube, which is usually slightly under full weight, the filled bag is manually removed from the packer plat-form and delivered to a suitable check weigher which includes a scale and means ,for delivering an additional quantity of material into each has to bring the weight of its contents up to the required weight. The above method of filling large bags is rather slow and requires considerable manual handling of the filled bags. l'fhere is therefore a field for a machine by which large flexible walled paper and textile bags may be expeditiously filled with a predetermined weight of material, and whereby the tops of the filled bags may be closed and hermetically sealed, without manual handling of the bags, and whereby such operation may be accomplished on a high production basis at low cost.

An important feature of the present invention, therefore, resides in the provision of an improved bag filling and sealing machine particularly designed for handling large flexible walled bags, whereby such bags may be expedi- 'tiously filled, weighed and sealed, without required manual handling of the filled bags, and also whereby such operation may be performed with a minimum of labor.

A, further and more specific feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a novel bag holding mechanism designed to be used in conjunction with the packer tube of a conventional auger type packer, whereby such a packer may be quickly converted into a modern high speed packaging machine at very little .ex-

pense, and whereby the operation of pack-aging comminuted materials may be greatly expedited, the improved mechanism making it possible to completely eliminate the manual operation of lifting the filled bags from the packer and .delivering them to the check weigher, or other receiving means.

Briefly, the improved packer comprises .a pneumatically operated bag holding mechanism having means for securing it to the packer tube, and said mechanism being adapted to grip the bag top walls whereby the body or the bag is .suspended from the bag holder with the packer tube positioned therein, and in which position the bag is supported while receiving its initial charge. This permits the bottom of each bag to assume its normal or natural shape when the material is gradually delivered into the bottom of the empty bag under pressure of the packer :tube auger. When the bag has received its initial charge, it is released from the bag holder and is delivered onto a suitable conveyor which advances'the filled bag to a suitable check weigher where the bag may receive an additional quanr tity of material to bring its contents up to full Weight. Thereafter the filled bag is delivered to a bag top closing and sealing mechanism which hermetically closes and seals the open bag tops.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved packaging machine which requires a minimum of manual labor in its operation, is efficient and practical in operation, requires a minimum of floor space, and is semiautomatic in operation, whereby the operation of filling and sealing the open tops of large bags may be expeditiously accomplished with a minimum of effort.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a novel bag holder comprising a sleeve adapted to be fitted over the usual packer tube of a conventional packer and arranged for relatively vertical movement thereon, said sleeve carrying a pair of opposed jaws adapted to :coopcrate with peripheral portions of the sleeve .to grip opposed marginal edge portions of the bag top walls and thereby pendently 'supportthe bag body in position over the packer tube to receive a charge therefrom.

A further object is to provide a bag holder (comprising opposed pneumatically operated jaws adapted to engage and grip the upper marginal edge portions of the bag top walls to support the empty bag over the packer tube, and the diameter of said sleeve being relatively smaller than the diameter of the bag when fully expanded, whereby suitable gussets may be provided in the edge walls of the bag body adjacent the top thereof to thereby contract the walls of the bag about the sleeve to prevent spouting of the flour from the bag top during the packing of the fiour into the bag from the packer tube.

A further object is to provide a bag holder adapted to be used in conjunction with a conventional packer tube to support an empty bag thereon while receiving a Charge, and means being provided in the construction of the bag holder for aligning the sealed bag bottom with the conveyor onto which the bag is delivered after receiving its initial charge, and whereby the open bag top will properly approach the sewing machine or bag top closing mechanism.

A further object is to provide a novel bag holder for pendently supporting a large empty bag while receiving its initial charge from the packer tube. The bag wall gripping means of said bag holder gripping the bag top walls with sufficient pressure to retain the bag in position upon the packer tube when the charge is delivered thereinto, and also resisting the pressure of the usual auger of the packer tube in the operation of forcing the material into the bag body.

A further object is to provide an apparatus of the class described comprising a bag holder operated in conjunction with a packer tube to pendently support an empty bag thereon while receiving a predetermined charge, and means being provided in conjunction with the bag holder whereby the filled bag may be conveniently released from the bag holder, when a predetermined charge has been delivered thereinto, and after which the bag is deposited on a suitable conveyor and advanced to a check weigher for receiving an added amount of material to bring the weight of its contents up to full measure, the loaded bag then passing through a suitable bag top closing and sealing mechanism where its top wall portions are pressed into flatwise relation and suitably secured together to thereby complete the filling, closing and sealing of the bag.

A further object is to provide a packaging machine comprising means for filling, Weighing, closing and sealing large flexible walled paper or textile bags, as the bags are intermittently advanced through the machine, said apparatus comprising a minimum of simplified manual controls whereby it may readily be operated by an inexperienced operator.

A further object is to provide a machine of the class described comprising a bag holder designed to be applied to a conventional packer tube and whereby the bag is suspended from its top over the packer tube during the filling operation of the bag from said tube, the bag during the filling operation being gradually lowered into position to be deposited upon a conveyor in an upright position, when the bag has received its initial charge, said conveyor delivering the bag onto a suitable scale or weighing apparatus operated in conjunction with a vibratory check weigher which is automatically set into motion when the bag reaches a position directly therebeneath, whereby additional material is trickled into the partially filled bag until the bag has received its full weight, whereupon the operation of the vibratory check weigher is automatically interrupted, and the completely filled bag is then passed through a bag closing and sealing mechanism which suitably closes and seals the bag top, after which the sealed bag is delivered to a suitable receiving means.

A further object is to provide an apparatus of the class described comprising a plurality of electrically and manually operated control elements adapted to be actuated during each cycle of operation to control the operation of the various mechanisms of the machine.

Other objects of the invention reside in the simple and inexpensive construction of the bag holder whereby it may be assembled as a unit and fitted onto a conventional packer tube; in the provision of the gusset retaining elements provided on the bag holder for contracting the walls of the open bag top around the sleeve 01' the bag holder to prevent the material being delivered into the bag body from working its way upwardly between the bag holder sleeve and the bag top walls during the filling operation; in the provision of a bag holder of the character disclosed which may be utilized with equal results for filling fiat or gusset type bags; and in the provision of suitable controls for at least partially automatically controlling the operation of the apparatus, and whereby a single operator may, if desired, attend the machine, his only duty being to successively slip the empty bags over the bag holder and to guide the tops of the filled bags into the sewing head, which he has ample time to do while a bag is being filled by the packer tube.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description and the accompanying drawings and will be pointed out in the annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawings there has been disclosed a structure designed to carry out the various objects of the invention, but it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the exact features shown, as various changes may be made within the scope of the claims which follow.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the novel bag filling and sealing machine herein disclosed, showing the various stations thereof;

Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1, partially in section, and showing the driving means for the elevator and sewing head;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, showing a partially filled bag positioned to receive the necessary added material from the vibrating feeder or check weigher to bring the weight of the bag contents up to full measure;

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 9, showing the bag holding mechanism positioned on the packer tube with its jaws in open position and a bag top positioned to be grasped thereby;

Figure 5 is an exterior view of the bag holder mechanism with the parts positioned as shown in Figure 4, and showing the gusset-forming jaws in their open or inoperative position;

Figure 6 is an external view of the bag holder looking at it from the line 66 of Figure 5;

Figure '7 is a vertical sectional view on the line 1-1 of Figure 10, showing the bag holding jaws in closed position;

Figure B is a view similar to Figure 75, showing the parts in bag holding position;

Figure 9 is a sectional plan view on the line 9-9 of Figure 5, showing the jaws open and a bag loosely fitted onto the packer tube, as in Figure 4;

Figure is a sectional plan view on the line "-40 of Figure 8, showing the jaws in gripping engagement with a bag;

Figure 11 is an elevational view, partially in section, showing a bag deposited on the conveyor after having received its initial charge;

'Figure 12 is a sectional plan view somewhat similar to Figure 10, showing a hat type bag body positioned in the bag holder; and

Figure 131s a wiring diagram showing the electrical connections between the various control elements of the apparatus.

GENERAL The novel bag filling and sealing machine herein disclosed is shown comprising a bag filling station for unit A, a weighing station B, and a has top closing and sealing station "C, comprising a lurality of controls so interconnected and related that when 'a bag is fitted onto the filling tube 2 of the packer unit, it will receive a predetermined charge which is slightly under the weight required to completely fill the bag. The bag thus partially rfill'ed is then deposited onto a conveyor 3 which conveys it to weighing station B, where it momentarily comes to rest to receive the additional material necessary to bring its contents up to full weight, after which the bag is advanced to station C where its top is closed and sealed.

PACKER UNIT-.STATION A The packer unit is shown comprising a filling tube 2, which may be of conventional design, and has its upper end connected to a hopper 4. adapted to deliver a predetermined charge into each bag, which is slightly under the necessary weight required to on the bag before sealing its top; The hopper 4 is shown having a conduit 5 connecting it to a main supply hopp'er 5, as best illustrated in Figure 1.

A feed auger l, of well known construction, is shown within the .iilling or packer. tube 2 and has a shaft 8 extending upwardly through the hopper 4 and operatively connected to a drive shaft 9 by suitable gears 11 and 12 .A clutch, generally designated by the numeral 13 and well known in the art, is provided on the drive shaft 9 and operates in conjunction with the bevel gear I 2 to control the driving connection between the drive shaft}! and the auger shaft '8. The drive shaft may be driven from any suitable source of power, not shown in the drawings.

The hopper '4, conduit 5 and the driving means forth'e auger 1 maybe supported upon a suitable supporting frame shown comprising upper and lower horizontal members l4 and i5, and an upright member lat having its upper and lower ends suitably secured to the horizontal members 14 and 15., respectively, by suitable means such as bolts or welding. The frame members 14 and 15 are shown secured to upright supporting posts H and 18 which may have their lower ends supported on a suitable base plate is positioned on the floor, asshown in Figure 1.

The novel packer unit A herein disclosed distinguishes from conventional packers in that the bag to receive a charge is suspended from the packer tube "by a novel bag holding mechanism whichtravels vertically upon the packer tube, the latter being mounted in fixed relation with respect to the supporting structure 14 to I13, inelusive.

BAG HOLDER An important feature of the present invention resides in the novel construction of the means provided for holding the empty bag upon the packer tube 2 during the filling operation. As best shown in Figures 4, 7., and 9 to 11, inclusive, the bag holder comprises. a sleeve, generally designated by the numeral 2|, which fits over the packer tube 2 and is adapted for up and down movement thereon. The sleeve has an outwardly turned flange 22 at its upper end whereby it may be secured to a pair of laterally extending arms 23 of a suitable carriage 24 provided with guide wheels 25 shown engaging the tubular uprights I1 and It, as clearly illustrated in Figures 1 and '2.

To prevent spouting of the flour or material from the bag during the filling operation,.a flexible annular sealing strip 10, preferably of fabric, is secured to the lower end of the sleeve 2|, as shown in Figure 4, and has its lower edge engaging the periphery of the "sleeve asshown, whereby the material cannot spout from the bag top. A metallic band 2.0 may be provided exteriorly of the flexible sealing strip 1 t.

Briefly, the carriage comprises spaced side plates 26 and 27 secured together in spaced relation by suitable cross members 28 preferably of angle iron cross section, as best illustrated in Figure *2. Suitable diagonalbraces 28 have their lower ends secured in fixed relation to the side plates 26 and 21 of the carriage and their upper ends to the laterally extending arms 23 or the carriage. The carriage and bag holder are counter-balanced by suitable weights 3.! each secured to one end of a cable 32 which pass over sheaves 33 and have their opposite ends secured to the carriage at opposite sides thereof, as will be understood by reference to the numeral 3-4 shown in Figure l. .A suitable brake, generally designated by. the numeral 35, may be mounted upon the upper frame member M of the packer and 'o-peratively engages the sheave 33 to control or retard the return movement of the bag holder from its lower to its uppermost position, each time a filled bag is discharged therefrom onto the confever 3.

The clutch It for control-ling the operation of the auger I is manually shifted into operative position to drive the auger by manipulation of a foot pedal 35 having a connection 31 operatively connecting it to the clutch through a suitable linkage, generally designated by the numeral 38. A suitable spring, not shown, and which maybe embodied in the clutch, is provided for rendering the clutch I 3 inoperative each time the operator removes his foot from the clutch pedal 36. In Figure l the clutch pedal is shown in its depressed position, as when the clutch is rendered operative to drive the feed auger I.

A pair of brackets 39 and 4! are secured to the upper portion of the sleeve 21, adjacent to the flange 22,, by suitable bolts 42. The brackets 39 and 4| are disposed in diametrically disposed relation, and are shown provided with a pair of depending arms 4-3 and 44., respectively, having bearings 45 at their lower ends adapted to sup port a pair of shafts 46,. The arms 43 and 44 are shown provided with horizontally disposed guide bars 41 which may .be secured to theirrespective arms 43 or 44 by suitable bolts I01 screws 48. The guide bars 41 of the arms 43 are preferably horizontally aligned with the guide bars 41 of the corresponding arms 44 of the bracket 4|, as clearly illustrated in Figure 5.

Slidably mounted upon the guide bars 41 of the brackets 43 and 44, are a pair of diametrically opposed clamping jaws 49 which are arcuately formed, as shown in Figures 9 and 10, whereby the inner clamping faces conform substantially to the curvature of the sleeve 2|. The inner surfaces of the jaws 49 are faced with a suitable bag engaging material such as rubher or fiber, which is adapted to engage the upper wall portions of the bag body or mouth and clampingly secure it to the periphery of the sleeve 2|, as will be understood by reference to Figures '7 and 10. The sleeve 2| preferably has its periphery recessed in alignment with the jaws 49, as clearly shown in Figures 4 and 7, whereby a slight annular shoulder 52 is provided in the periphery of the sleeve directly below the jaws 49, whereby the bag top may be firmly secured to the sleeve 2| in a manner to readily support the full charge delivered into the bag from the packer tube.

The clamping jaws 49 are provided at their ends with suitable guides 53 adapted to receive the guide bars 47. Plates 54 are secured to the ends of the jaws by suitable screws 55, as best shown in Figure 8, which serve to retain the jaws in position upon the guides 41. It will thus be seen that the jaws 49 at each side of the sleeve 2| are movable in a common plane towards or away from the sleeve, as shown in Figures 9 and 10.

Means is provided for simultaneously actuating the jaws 49 and, in the present instance, is shown comprising a pneumatic cylinder 55 having a fitting 51 secured to one end thereof provided with a forked terminal 58 adapted to be operatively connected to the swinging end of a lever 59, shown secured to one end of one of the shafts 46 by such means as a key or pin, not shown. The hub SI of each lever 59 is shown provided with a relatively shorter arm 62 having one end of a link 53 pivotally connected thereto by suitable pivot bolts 94. The opposite end of each link 63 is pivotally connected to one of the plates 54 by suitable shouldered pivot pins 65, whereby when the rock shafts 46 are relatively rocked in their bearings, the arms 62 and links 63 will impart movement to the jaws 49, as will readily be understood by reference to Figures 5 and 8.

The inner end of each link 63 is provided with a longitudinal extension 66 having a jaw 51 secured to its outer end adapted to engage the edge walls or gussets of the bag top and partially press them into folding relation with respect to one another, as best shown in Figure 10. The bag engaging surfaces of the jaws 61 are preferably faced with a suitable rubber or anti-friction material 68, as best shown in Figure 10.

A piston 69 is mounted for reciprocal movement within the cylinder 56 and has a piston rod 1| connecting it to the oppositely disposed arm 59. A suitable packing nut 12 may be provided on the head 13 of the cylinder to prevent leakage of the fluid around the piston rod H.

Suitable flexible conduits I4 and lead from the cylinder head 13 and fitting 57, respectively, of the cylinder 59, to a suitable 4-way fluid control valve 16 indicated in Figure 5. The control valve 16 may be of conventional design, and is shown provided with dual exhausts I1 and i8, and an operating piston 19. The piston 19 is mounted for reciprocal movement within the valve body and serves to control fluid flow therethrough, as will subsequently be described. A pipe connection 8| has one end in communication with the valve body 16 and its opposite end may be connected to a suitable source of air supply, under pressure, not shown.

Figures 5 and 9 illustrate the jaws 39 and 4| in open position to permit a bag to be readily slipped onto the packer tube 2, as shown in Figures 1 and 7. After the empty bag has been slipped over the packer tube 2, to the position shown in Figures 1 and '7, the piston of the control valve 16 is actuated to cause air to fiow from the valve through the conduit 15 to the fitting 51 of the cylinder 55, whereupon the piston 69 is longitudinally translated in the cylinder 56 under fluid pressure to thereby cause the arms 59 to swing outwardly from the positions shown in Figure 5, to the positions shown in Figure 8.

Such actuation of the arms 59 will cause the bag engaging jaws 49 to move into engagement with the bag top walls, as shown in Figures 1 and 8. At the same time the edge walls 82 are intucked, as shown in Figure 10, as a result of the jaws 61 engaging the bag top walls between the jaws 49, as will be clearly understood by reference to Figure 10. The jaws 61 do not press the pliers of the edge walls into firm contact with one another, but function merely to retain the edge walls in their intucked condition during the filling of the bag from the packer tube. Each jaw 49 extends a substantial distance around the sleeve 2| whereby when engaged with a bag top, as shown in Figure 10. the bag top is so firmly secured to the sleeve 2| that the bag body, regardless of its size may receive the desired charge from the packer tube without danger of the bag accidentally becoming detached from the sleeve 2|.

By thus pendently supporting the bag while receiving its initial charge, the bag body, and particularly the bottom thereof, may assume its natural shape and will be deposited onto the conveyor 3 in such condition, as will be understood by the full and dotted lines in Figure l.

CONVEYOR The conveyor 3 of the machine is shown comprising an endless flexible conveying element or belt 83 mounted on rolls 84 and 85, shown supported on shafts 86 and 87, respectively. The lower run of the belt 83 is shown passing over idler pulleys 88 and 89. The conveyor belt 83 may be in the form of a single belt or it may be composed of a plurality of individual endless belts arranged in spaced parallel relation and cooperating to provide a carrying surface for the filled bag bodies. Suitable anti-friction supporting rollers 9| may be provided to support the upper run of the belt 83. To retain the bags in an upright position, a suitable guide rail 92 may be provided on the far side of the conveyor, when viewed as shown in Figure l, which is disposed adjacent to the bag bodies to thereby prevent the bags from accidentally tipping over in a direction away from the operator. The guide rail 92 may be supported on suitable upright posts 93 secured to the supporting frame 94 of the conveyor.

The operation of the conveyor is controlled by manipulation of a conveniently located foot pedal 95 mounted for pivotal movement on the machine frame, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The foot pedal 95 is normally retained in an elevated position as shown in Figure 1, by a suitable spring, not shown in the drawings, and it is operativelyassociated with a suitable control switch, generally designated by the numeral 90. The control switch 90 controls the operation of a suitable electric motor 96 having an operative connection with the conveyor through a belt drive 91, a speed reducer 98, and a second belt drive 99, as indicated in Figure 2. The control switch 90 is so interconnected in the control circuit, la ter to be described, that when the foot pedal 85 is depressed, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1, the circuit to the motor 96 is closed, whereupon the conveyor will continue to operate without interruption, so long as the operator depresses the foot pedal. When the operator releases his foot from the control pedal 95, it moves upwardly to the dotted line position shown in Figure 1, thereby opening the control switch 90 and interrupting the supply of current to the motor 96.

CHECK WEIGHERSTATION B The check weigher functions to supply the. partially filled bag body with the additional material to make up the full measure required before closing the bag top. It comprises a weighing platform, generally designated by the numeral IHI, which constitutes a portion of a suitable scale indicated by the numeral I02. The weighing platform IIlI is disposed beneath the conveyor belt 83 and is adapted to yield under the weight of each filled bag received at station E.

A suitable check weigher, preferably of the vibratory type and designated by the numeral I03,

is mounted at station B and is shown comprising a trough I04 having its discharge end I positioned over the path of travel of the open bag tops whereby material may trickle from the trough I04 into the open bag tops, as the bags successively pass over the weighing platform IIlI. Material may be delivered into the trough I64 of the check weigher from a suitable supply conduit I06.

The check weigher is actuated by an electrically operated vibrator coil I01 of well known construction. A normally open control switch I98 is connected in the circuit of the vibrator coil I01, and has an operating arm IIIJ, indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1, and shown in full lines in Figures 2 and 3. The switch I08 may be mounted on the supporting structure of the scale I02 with the free end of its operating arm H0 positioned in the path of the bag bodies, as indicated in Figures 2 and 3. As each bag approaches a position beneath the discharge end I95 of the check weigher, the bag body engages and actuates the operating arm I II! of the control switch I08 and closes said switch and thereby conditions the vibrator circuit for operation.

Inter-connected in the vibrator circuit is a time delay relay, generally designated by the nu meral I28, which also is of well known construction. This relay functions to slightly retard the actionof the vibrator to allow ample time for the bag to assume its position beneath the discharge end 35 of the vibrator spout Hi4.

Means is provided for automatically opening the circuit to the vibrator coil the instant the bag has received its full weight of material. Such means may be in the form of a normally closed conventional mercury switch, generally designated by the numeral I98, which preferably is mounted upon the tiltable scale beam IIi of the scale I02 in such a manner that when the 10 bag has received its full weight and the scale beam ill swings upwardly and causes the mercury switch N39 to open the circuit to the vibrator coil I01, the check weigher instantly comes to rest.

The operation of the conveyor may then be resumed, by depressing the foot pedal 9-5, whereby the completely filled bag advances to station 0. When the scale beam Iii is returned to its normal closed position, the mercury switch its closes and again conditions the circuit to the vibrator coil Iii'I for operation, whereby it is in condition to function when the next bag passes over the weighing platform NH.

The scale beam 1 li is shown pivotally mounted upon a pivot pin H2 caried by a bracket II3 mounted on an offset arm Il secured to the upright post H5 of the scale. The post H5 is shownsupported upon a suitable base I Hi. Upright posts Ill may be carried by the scale platform fill for supporting a guard rail I I8 against which each bag body may be supported when the bags are successively temporarily brought to rest at station B to receive the required material to make up its full weight.

BAG TOP CLOSING MEANSSTATION C Means is provided for closing and sealing the open bag tops, and is shown comprising a sewing head or machine, generally designated by the numeral H9. This sewing machine may be of well known construction, and therefore need not be described in detail in the present application. The sewing head II9 is suitably mounted over the path of travel of the bag tops in position to successively receive the flattened bag tops and press the Walls of each bag top firmly into fiatwise relation. A strip of tape I2I may then be folded over the flattened bag top walls and stitched thereto by a seam I22 as is well known.

If desired, the tape may be coated on one side with a suitable heat scalable adhesive whereby when the tape has been secured to the bag top, the bag tops may be passed between suitable heated pressure rolls, to thereby cause the adhesive to become reactivated to further seal the bag tops. The supply of tape may be mounted over the sewing machine in the form of a roll I23 and feeds downwardly therefrom over a guide roll [25 to a suitable folder I25 which longitudinally folds the tape over the bag top walls.

The sewing machine may be driven by a belt drive I26 driven from a belt I2? having a runing connection with a pulley 52B of a suitable speed reducer I29. The speed reducer I29 may be driven from the belt 91 of the'motor 96. See Figure 2. The sewing head or machine H9 is vertically adjustable with respect to the bag tops by a suitable mechanism I31 well known in the industry.

CONTROL ELEMENTS AND CIRCUITS The operations of the various mechanisms employed, particularly at stations B and C, are electrically controlled, and therefore embody a plurality of electric control elements of conventional design, electrically inter-connected by a plurality of electric circuits. These control elements and circuits are diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 13. As here shown, the motor 556 is provided with a supply circuit comprising wires 632, E33 and I34 which are connected to a suitable supply of electric energy, not shown. A

magnetically operated starting switch of conventional design, is shown at I35 which includes a solenoid coil I36 shown having a wire I3'I electrically connecting one side thereof to a terminal post I38, and a second wire I39 connects the opposite end of the solenoid I36 to a terminal post I4I of the foot switch 90, hereinbefore referred to.

The foot switch comprises the contact MI and a second contact I42 adapted to be alternately engaged by a switch element I43 carried by the foot pedal 95. The switch element I43 is connected to a terminal post M4 to which one end of a wire I65 is connected. The opposite end of wire I45 is connected to a conductor I46 of an electric supply circuit Ml, through a suitable fuse I48. The contact post I44 of the switch is therefore constantly in direct connection with the supply circuit I 31. A conductor I49 constitutes the other side of the supply circuit I47 and is connected to a similar fuse II from which a wire I 52 leads to a wire I63, shown connected between a rectifier, generally designated by the numeral I54, and the terminal post I38. A suitable switch I55 is provided in the wire I52.

The rectifier I54 serves to provide the necessary pulsating DC current for the vibrator coil I07 of the check weigher J3, hereinbefore described. AC current from the supply circuit I41 passes through the rectifier I54 and is converted into pulsating current which then flows from the rectifier I54 through wire Ice, ruse I57, and to control switch I58, adapted for manual operation, and which may be interconnected with the second contact I66 is positioned adjacent to the contact I64 and a switch element i6? is adapted to bridge the contacts I64 and I66 to permit the flow of electric energy from one post to the other.

A wire I68 connects the post 566 to a terminal I69 of the time delay relay I20. has a normally open control member I?! shown mounted on a post I12 having a wire I73 electrically connecting it to one end of a relay coil H4 of the time delay relay E20, hereinbefore referred The relay I to. The other side of the coil H4 has a wire IE5 57/ electrically connecting it to the terminal post I38, as clearly illustrated in the wiring diagram. To complete the circuit to the rectifier I54, a wire Il6 is shown leading from the fuse 5:38 of the conductor I46 to the rectifier.

The time delay relay I 20 serves to momentarily delay the action of the check weigher to make certain that each bag may reach a position beneath the discharge spout 94 of the check weigher before the check weigher is started. Current r of the mercury switch I00 are connected respectively to the adjacent ends of wires I78 and I19. The opposite end of wire I78 is shown connected to the contact post I69 of the time delay relay I20, and the wire I79 is connected to the fixed contact I8I of the mechanically operated relay I65. The contact I 8| has a supplemental contact I82 and a switch element I83 is adapted to bridge the contacts I8I and I 82 to permit the flow of current therebetween. The switch elements I61 and I83 may be interconnected for simultaneous operation, as shown at I00 in Figure 13, so that when the bridge member I61 bridges the contacts I64 and I66, the bridge element I83 will simultaneously electrically connect the contacts I8I and The mechanically held relay is shown embodying a pair of solenoid coils E84 and I which are operatively associated with the bridge elements I61 and I63 in such a manner that when the solenoid I84 is energized, the bridge elements I61 and IE3 will bridge the gaps between the contacts I64 and I66 and 28% and I82, respectively, as is well known in devices of this general type. The solenoid I85 is shown having a wire I86 connecting one side thereof to the contact I82, and the opposite end of the solenoid coil I85 has a wire I 8"! connecting it to the corresponding end of the solenoid I84. A wire I88 connects the solenoid I 64 and wire I81 to the terminal post I38, and a wire I89 electrically connects the opposite end of the solenoid coil I84 to a contact I9I of the mechanically operated relay switch I65. The contact I9I has a complemental contact I92 having a wire I93 connecting it to the fixed contact I4I of the foot operated switch 90.

OPERATION The novel bag filling and sealing machine herein disclosed may readily and conveniently be operated by a single operator or, if desired, two operators may be employed. When the machine is at rest in its normal condition, the foot pedals 36 and are in elevated positions, and the packer tube is disposed in its elevated position. If gusset type bags are to be filled, the operator grasps the bag top by the gussets at opposite sides thereof and brings his hands slightly together to cause the bag mouth to open. The bag may then be readily slipped over the packer tube 2 and upwardly thereon until the bag top walls are aligned with the jaws 49 of the bag holder, it being understood that during the return movement of the packer tube from its lower to its elevated position, the four-way valve I6 is automatically actuated to release the air from the cylinder 56 and permit the jaws to return to open positions, as shown in Figures 4 and 9.

To thus automatically actuate the valve I6, its piston I9 is shown provided at one end with an operating lever I94 which may be pivoted at I95 and extends outwardly into the path of a lug I96 carried by the opertaing rod 31, as shown in Figure l. The valve operating lever I94 is normally positioned as indicated in dotted lines in Figure l, and the lug I96 is normally positioned above the lever I94. It will thus be seen that when the operator depresses the pedal 36, the lug I96 will engage the valve lever I94 and actuate the piston 19 of the valve to admit air to the cylinder 56, and thereby cause the jaws to firmly grip the bag top. In Figure 1 the parts are shown in the positions assumed when the foot pedal is depressed to start th packer auger to 13 deliver material into the bag, as indicated by the arrows.

Secured to the lower end of the piston 79 of the control valve '56 is a similar control lever I91 shown pivoted at ltd to the valve body. The lever I9! is operatively connected to the piston 19 and has its free end positioned in the path of a rod I99 carried by the carriage 2d. The rod I99 is adapted to engage the lever I9? and there-- by actuate the valve F3 to cause it to reverse the flow of air to the control cylinder 56, whereupon the bag holder jaws 49 are actuated to release the bag top, and simultaneously the operation of the auger is interrupted by control mechanism well known in the art.

The complemental gusset forming jaws S? on gage the intucked wall portions of the bag top, as shown in Figure 10, when the jaws 49 are in gripping engagement with the bag top, which, in addition to shaping the bag top, also tends to hold the bag top walls against the packer tube between the ends of the jaws 49, as shown in Figure 10. The packer tube is so adjusted in its operation that it will deliver substantially a predetermined quantity or weight of material in each bag which may, in the case of a one hundred pound bag, be one to two pounds under the weight required to fill the bag to its full weight of one hundred pounds.

The conveyor 83 is normally at rest, and when a bag is placed thereon from the packer, as indicated at 80 in Figure 13, the operator depresses the control pedal 95, whereupon the movable switch element I43 of control switch 90 is moved into electrical engagement with contact Isl, and thereby establishes a how of current from the conductor I46 of the supply circuit through the wire I45, switch element I 33, wire Its, and solenoid I36, whereupon the magnetic starting switch I35 instantly closes to start the motor at. From the coil I36, the current flows through wires I31, I53, and switch I55 to the conductor Hit of the supply circuit. It is to be understood that before the apparatus is started, the manual switches I55 and I58 are closed to permit the rectifier 54 to function and convert the AC current to pulsating D. C. current, as required by the vibrator coil I ll! of the check weigher.

Such initial actuation of the foot pedal 95 starts the conveyor, whereupon the underweight filled bag advances to station B. When it reaches a position over the scale platform It, the opera.- tor removes his foot from the foot pedal 25 whereby the flow of current through the solenoid I35 of the motor control switch 235 is interrupted to thereby shut oir the motor. At the same instant, the coil I'M of the'time delay relay lzil is energized, and after a slight pause or delay, caused by the action of time delay relay I29, the vibrator coil I01 of the check weigher becomes energized and the check weigher then functions to trickle additional material into the open bag top from its spout IM, as indicated by the arrow in Figure 3. Such feeding of additional material into the bag from the check weigher continues until the bag has received its full weight. This is determined by the action of the mercury switch Hi9, which normally is open. When the bag has received the required full weight, the scale beam III is tilted in a direction to cause the switch Ill-9 to close. Such closing of switch 169 will cause the solenoid m5 of the mechanically operated relay I65 to become energized to ther by cause the bridge elements H51 and IE3 to be moved to their full line positions, shown in the 14 wiring diagram, thereby breaking the circuit to the check weigher vibrator coil Iill. The operator then again depresses foot pedal as to start the conveyor and advance the filled bag from station B to station C, where its open top is closed and sealed by the sewing head H9. In the meantime, a fresh bag is positioned upon the conveyor at station A and the cycle repeated.

The foot pedals 36 and 95 are normally retained in elevated positions by suitable springs, not shown, in the drawings. The foot pedal 36 may be returned to its elevated position by the clutch operating mechanism I3 which controls the operation of the auger, such mechanism being well known in the art. The switch pedal 95 is so arranged that the operator must hold it in depressed condition to cause the conveyor to operate. This has been found a very practical and convenient method of control because by so arranging the foot pedal the operator has complete control of the operation of the entire apparatus at all times. The two pedals are conveniently located whereby a single operator may, if desired, operate the machine. In some instances, however, it may be found more desirable to employ two operators.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that I have accomplished at least the principal objects of my invention, and it will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiments herein described may be variously changed and modified without departing from the spirit or the invention, and that the invention is capaole or uses and has advantages not herein specifically described; hence it will be appreciated that the herein disclosed embodiments are illustrative only, and that my invention is not limited thereto.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination with a packer tube having a feed auger therein, means for driving said feed auger, a supportin frame for said drive means, a sleeve mounted for up and down movement on the packer tube, a carriage for supporting the sleeve, said carriage being mounted for up and down movement on the supporting frame, opposed bag top gripping jaws carried by the sleeve for gripping the top therebetween, said sleeve member having a tapered exterior wall to facilitate the application of a bag thereover, and said sleeve being provided with a depression for cooperation with each of said jaws.

In combination with a packer tube having a feed auger therein, means for driving said feed auger, a supporting frame for said drive means, a sleeve slidably mounted on the packer tube, a carriage having a horizontally extending support for supporting said sleeve, said carriage being mounted for up and down movement on the supporting frame, opposed bag top gripping jaws carried by the member for pendently supporting said bag, pneumatically operated means for simultaneously operating said jaws including a cylinder having a piston therein, a fluid control valve having a connection with a source of fluid under pressure, conduits connecting the cylinder and piston to the control. valve, a control device for controlling the operation of the drive means for the packer feed auger, and said control device having means for actuating the control valve, whereby when the control device is initially actuated to start the packer, said control valve is actuated to cause the jaws to grip the bag top.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further character- 'ized by means carried by the carriage adapted to actuate said control valve to effect the release of the filled bag.

4. In combination with a stationary packer tube having an auger therein for packing material into a bag, a bag holder comprising a tubular member mounted for vertical traveling movement on the packer tube, a pair of jaws mounted on said member, means for opening the jaws to permit an empty bag to be fitted over the member with its top wall portions positioned between the member and said jaws, means made operable by initial operation of the packer tube auger to automatically cause said jaws to grip the bag top walls and pendently support the bag from the bag holder when the auger is operating to pack material into the bag, and means for sealing the connection between said tubular member and the periphery of the packer tube to thereby prevent spouting of the material from the bag through said connection during the ba filling operation.

5. In connection with a stationary packer tube having an auger therein for packing material into a bag, a sleeve mounted for vertical traveling movement on the packer tube, a carriage for supporting the sleeve, a bag holder carried by the sleeve and including a pair of jaws adapted to cooperate with the periphery of the sleeve to grip a bag top, power means for driving the auger, a manually operable device for controlling the operation of the packer tube auger and said jaws, whereby when an empty bag is fitted over the packer tube and said control device is actuated, said jaws will grip the bag top walls and thus pendently support the bag and the auger will operate to pack material into the bag and thereby gradually force the carriage and bag holder downwardly with respect to the packer tube, as the bag fills with material, means mounted on the carriage for actuating said control device to cause it to interrupt the auger and actuate the jaws to release the bag when a predetermined charge has been delivered into the bag, and a flexible sealing element secured to the lower marginal edge portion of the sleeve and frictionally engaging the periphery of the packer tube to thereby seal the connection between the periphery of the packer tube and the bore of the sleeve.

6. In combination with a packer for packing flour and the like into flexible walled bags, said packer comprising a packer tube having its upper end connected to a hopper or bin, and the diameter of said tube being relatively less than the diameter of the bag top when said top is expanded, bag holder including a sleeve embracing the packer tube and adapted for up and down movement thereon, a pair of jaws movably mounted on said member and having their corresponding ends spaced apart, when said jaws are grippingly engaged with a bag top, thereby to provide clearance for the slack edge wall portions of the bag top, means for actuating said jaws to grip the bag top, and a pair of auxiliary holding jaws operatively connected with said bag top gripping jaws and adapted to engage the slack edge wall portions of the bag top when the bag top gripping jaws engage the bag top to secure it between said sleeve and said jaws, whereby said slack wall portions will be retained in proper position during the filling operation of the bag to thereby facilitate the subsequent closing and sealing of the bag top.

'7. In combination with a packer for packing flour and the like into flexible walled gusset type bags, said packer comprising a packer tube whose diameter is relatively less than the diameter of the bag tops when said tops are expanded, a bag holder including a sleeve mounted on the packer tube and adapted for up and down movement thereon, a pair of jaws carried on said sleeve and having their corresponding ends spaced apart when said jaws are grippingly engaged with a bag top fitted over the sleeve, thereby to provide clearance for the bag top gussets, means for actuating said jaws to grip the bag top, and a pair of auxiliary holding jaws operatively connected with said bag to gripping jaws and adapted to engage the slack bag top gussets and press the walls thereof into fiatwise relation when the bag top gripping jaws engage the bag top to secure it to the sleeve, whereby the gussets of the bag top are retained in proper position during the filling operation of the bag to thereby facilitate the subsequent closing and sealing of the bag top.

8. In a bag filling machine having a packer and filler tube adapted to discharge material into a bag through the mouth thereof, the improvement comprising in combination a sleeve member mounted for vertical traveling movement on said packer tube, a pair of oppositely disposed supporting jaws mounted on said sleeve member and operable to grip the top of a bag between said jaws and said sleeve member to support the same, said bag being thus pendently supported by said jaws, the bottom of said bag being unsupported, means for opening and closing said jaws to permit a bag to be fitted over said sleeve member with the top of the bag between said jaws and said sleeve member, means whereby said sleeve will automatically descend as said bag is filled and means operated by the descending of said sleeve for causing the jaws to release the bag top whereby the filled bag will be deposited on a supporting surface.

9. In an apparatus for filling bags having a filler tube adapted to discharge material into the open mouth of the bag, the diameter of said filler tube being relatively less than the diameter of the bag top when said top is expanded, the improvement comprising a sleeve mounted for vertical travel on said filler tube, a pair of oppositely disposed semi-circular jaws pivotally mounted on said sleeve and having their corresponding ends spaced apart when said jaws are grippingly engaged with a bag top thereby to provide clearance for the slack edge wall portions of the bag top, toggle means for simultaneously actuating said jaws to grip said bag top, and auxiliary gripping elements at the ends of said pair of jaws adapted to engage the slack edge wall portions of the bag top when the bag gripping jaws engage the bag top to secure it between said sleeve and said jaw, and said auxiliary gripping elements operable by said toggle means for closing simultaneously by said jaws.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized by means for sealing the connection between said sleeve and said packer tube.

11. In a bag filling machine having a packer and filler tube adapted to discharge material into a bag through the mouth thereof, the improvement comprising in combination a sleeve member mounted for vertical traveling movement on said packer tube, a pair of oppositely disposed supporting jaws mounted on said sleeve member and operable to grip the top of a bag between said jaws and said sleeve member to support the same, said bag being thus pendently supported by said jaws, the bottom of said bag being unsupported, means for opening and clos- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Day et a1. June 22, 1926 15 Number Number Name Date Belcher Feb. 10, 1931 Wright Jan. 7, 1936 Von Segebaden et a1. Mar. 9, 1937 Long June 10, 1941 Neill Oct. 21, 1941 Neuman May 5, 1942 Richardson May 22, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Australia Nov. 1, 1933 Switzerland Nov. 15, 1938 

